You know that scratching is natural and necessary for your cat but, unfortunately not at the cost of your furniture.
Scratching is beneficial to your cat because it helps remove the dead outer sheaths of their nails, and it also serves as a form of exercise for your cat as they mark their territory. Above all, scratching makes them feel good!
Scratches are inevitable when you have cats. But these helpful tips should help minimize, if not prevent, further damage to your furniture. No, not the citrus spray method that not only does not work, but it also stains our furniture! Let's read on.
Get A 'Sisal' Carpet or Rug
Without a doubt, all cats adore sisal or jute material. And this method has been tried and true with our cats at home. Investing in a carpet or rug that looks like sisal and provides a heaven of scratching for your cats is a must. Most cats enjoy lounging by the window in the living room, in the kitchen or the hallways, and adding a carpet will increase their enjoyment. Furthermore, they create a cosy atmosphere in your home.
Invest In Good Scratching Posts and Pads
Kittens start scratching at two months of age, and as early as this time, you should make a scratch post or pad accessible to them. This will encourage the behavior and let them express their natural cat behaviors while getting used to the concept that these posts and pads are meant for scratching.
The majority of scratching posts sold in pet stores are small and low. This will not entice the cats to scratch at all, and it is usually a waste of money.
It is also best if the scratching post is 3-feet tall or higher with several layers and usually in-built within a cat tree. The base width of the scratching post should be anywhere between 1 to 3 feet and heavy enough to withstand even strong scratches.
But as cats have their preferences, you can start by purchasing several different types and find out what your cat prefers.
Protect Your Furniture
Despite having a new scratching post and pads, if your feline is still set on your furniture, protect your furniture.
There are two effective ways to protect your furniture and both of which are easily available online to purchase:
1) Use cat scratch sticker. Cats don't like stickiness on their paws, so once they attempt to scratch your furniture with cat scratch tape and feel that adhesiveness, they'll go away on their own.
2) Use a sofa-specific sisal guard. They come in square or rectangle pieces that can be attached to the arm rests or even parts of the sofa. It may not cover the entire sofa, but it does protect the weak points of the furniture. They're also more durable, which means your sisal guard won't shred or fray.
Work On Your Cat’s Claw
No, never declaw your cat! This is painful for them and inhuman, and they are created to have claws.
You can trim your pet's claws instead, which usually lessens the damage to your furniture. You can either do this procedure at home or bring your cat to the vet to have it professionally accomplished.
After Thoughts
Scratching is a natural part of being a cat, and having damaged furniture every now and then is a phase that every cat parent must go through. As cat lovers, we regard damaged furniture as a badge of honour for having a healthy cat at home.
Image credit to: https://www.pinterest.com/